Doing this one thing will help simplify your life: how to weekly meal plan. To keep evenings running smooth, having a meal plan for the week is a must. When the weekly menu is already planned it makes being asked, “what’s for dinner?”, as soon as you walk through the door (or text while you are still at work) less stressful. It gives me one less thing to think about or have to decide each day. Download my Dinner planning guide to get 20 healthy dinner ideas plus a printable weekly dinner schedule.
How to weekly meal plan and simplify your life:
Keep it simple:
Simple is key when you are starting to learn how to weekly meal plan, or even when you have been doing it for a long time. It’s a great idea to have a list of quick and easy things to make.
Prioritize:
Learn what is important to you and your family when it comes to your weekly meal plan, and then use shortcuts that work for you in your kitchen. This can include having go to easy meals to prepare, leftover nights, theme nights (Meatloaf Monday, Taco Tuesday, etc).
How to weekly meal plan:
1. Survey:
Take a look in your fridge, freezer and pantry. It keeps costs down to know what’s already bought and paid for. Doing a survey of what you have can help keep track of what is going to expire (throwing food away is so frustrating!). Being creative by using ingredients that you already have can be fun. Sometimes you find a new way to make an old recipe that works out even better then the original!
2. Schedules:
Knowing what everyone in the household has going on during the week is helpful when planning meals. If there is an evening that there is a bunch of activities already happening, the meal is going to look different then on nights when everyone is home. It’s nice to sit down on Sunday and connect with everyone in your household and know what is going on. When planning our weekly meals, this step is important to know when it’s going to be a crockpot meal, something that is easy to reheat or something that needs to be ready by a specific time.
3. Make a Plan:
Now we are getting to the good stuff! Sit down and write out what meals to make on each night for the following week. While writing out the meals, simultaneously make the grocery list. Since you have your inventory of what is already in your kitchen (from step 1), making the grocery list will be easy peasy!
4. Prep:
Once you know what’s on the menu for the week, find parts of the meals that can be prepped or cooked ahead. For example- if I am making spaghetti or tacos, I cook the meat ahead of time, then I label it and keep it in the fridge. Doing a couple things like that really save time and make things not as rushed when you have people staring at you wondering where dinner is at!
5. Enjoy!
Having a family meal where everyone is around the table is my favorite. It’s a time to talk about your day, connect and just check in with everyone. Don’t forget to sit back and enjoy it!
To make it even simpler- download my guide to weekly dinner planning here.
Wanting some posts on organizing- here are a few of my favorite ones:
How to make a cleaning schedule
How I can help!
With Holistic Health and Wellness Coaching:
- Did you know that I have been a nurse for over 16 years and am also a holistic wellness coach?
- If you ready for a real change in your life that allows you to heal and find real wellness- physically, emotionally and spiritually. Then wellness coaching is for you!!
- Schedule your complimentary consultation!!
Join my monthly membership: Register here
As a member you get:
1. A monthly wellness challenge that will change each month. The challenge will include a printable calendar with the challenge details as well as daily inspiration. The monthly challenge will rotate between things like movement, nutrition, and mindset. Helping you to create healthy routines and habits that support every aspect of your wellness!
2. Morning email with the wellness challenge of the day is & tips and tricks on how to complete it in practical ways.
3. A weekly Meditation emailed to you. This helps support your mental and emotional wellness by aiding in your stress reduction.
4. A new healthy recipe you can use for meal preop is available each Sunday, so that you can go into your week prepared with healthy choices to help support your physical wellness.
5. Option to join a member-only Facebook group that will allow you to connect with others who are also improving their wellness and enhance the feeling of community and accountability!
And get ready for this…. you get everything I mentioned above included for only $29 a month!!! That is less than $1 a day!
My podcast!! Listen in your way:
Weekly Wellness Newsletter
- Just for signing up for my newsletter, you automatically get emailed my printable guide to wellness as well as getting access to many other worksheets that you can print off and use right away!!
- Receive and email every Wednesday with a different way to make wellness simple in your life.
My monthly book club:
What it is:
- Join my monthly book club
- When you sign up for the book club you will receive a list of each month’s book club pick for the year!
- At the end of each month, you will get a book club kit for that month’s book with the book club question, recipes inspired by the book and a playlist inspired by the book.
- If you like book discussions you can be involved with our Book Club Facebook group and/or an local in-person meeting!
- Check out my Bookshop link with all of my past book club picks
Follow me on Social Media:
See what wellness looks like for me in my everyday life & you get more pictures of Lilo!!
- Instagram– follow my stories and reels
- On Pinterest – come pin with me – check out my boards for my favorite meal planning ideas and more!
- & if you want to dive into wellness a more, join my private Facebook Group: Wellness for Real Life- body, mind and spirit
Be well,
Faith
***Some of the links in my posts contain affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link. I pinky promise I will always give my honest opinion of any product and would never recommend something if I did not use and love it!!
D I S C L A I M E R Anything that I discuss about making any lifestyle changes is from my own experience and/or other clients personal experiences and may not be suited for you. It is strongly recommended that you consult with your health professional before making changes in your own life. By engaging in anything that I talk about, you agree that you do so at your own risk.
